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Brief DescriptionThe collection of personal memorabilia and official material captures the history of South Australia's colonial naval vessel HMCS Protector between 1884 and 1950. The collection comprises more than 90 artefacts relating to the history of this specific vessel including paintings, photographs, documents, and personal mementos.

Full DescriptionThe Protector material includes nineteenth and twentieth century paintings, two by notable early 20th century maritime artist Frederick Dawson, historic photographs of crew and of the vessel in South Australian ports, ship fittings, a nose cone from shells fired during the vessel's drills, and vases fashioned from shell casings. Personal memorabilia includes a sword belt belonging to Captain CJ Clare, the last commander on the vessel before it was transferred to the Federal government in 1901, a sword and medals belonging to Captain Norton, a wooden money box in the shape of a half model crafted by the Protector's gunner William Blake, and a dress sword, cat-o-nine tail, binoculars, diary and stores book owned by Edwin Argent, who also served as a gunner. The collection also includes a Queen Victoria medal issued to those who served during the Boxer Rebellion and souvenirs acquired by seaman Henry Perry from his voyage to China as gifts for his young family.

SignificanceProtector was the most significant vessel in South Australian naval history. The vessel was built for the South Australian government in response to a directive from the British government that the colonies acquire gunboats or torpedo boats and man these with locally recruited men to protect the major ports. Protector arrived in South Australia in 1884. Its duties initially comprised vice regal tours to South Australian out ports, manoeuvres and training drills. In 1888 following the tragic shipwreck of the Star of Greece, Protector was made responsible for the training and maintenance of the colony's lifeboat service which had languished since the early 1860s. The most dramatic event in the vessel's history occurred in 1900 when Protector was sent to help quell the Boxer Uprising in China as one of a combined British naval force. Protector saw no action, but the efficiency of its crew was noted by the Royal Navy. Following the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy in 1910, Protector became a Commonwealth naval ship. The Protector collection provides insights into the significance and role of the colonial navy in South Australia. The Protector's voyage to the Boxer Rebellion in 1901 was a defining moment in the history of the South Australia in that a local naval force was asked to assist the British in a major conflict and acquitted itself with flair and dignity. Argent's diary from the voyage is a rare personal account of this endeavour. Stores and duty books also owned by Argent provide a window into the routines, rhythms and regulations of a colonial naval ship. The Protector was a familiar local sight and many Port Adelaide families were connected to the vessel in some way either in provisioning, maintenance or with sons serving on the ship itself. While there is material relating to the Protector in other institutions, this collection is the most comprehensive and complete.

AccessA South Australian Maritime Museum collection. Access to collection items held in Museum Stores is by appointment only.